ISO-NE Approves Northern Pass Interconnectivity

The hydroelectric power line project known as the Northern Pass has passed a major regulatory hurdle Tuesday.

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Grid operator ISO New England has given the Northern Pass a green light to interconnect with the existing regional grid. PSNH spokesman Mike Skelton says it marks the end of a three-year-long process.

“They’re always looking at ways to plan to ensure that they can replace whatever energy source we’re counting on a day to day basis. So when you have a new project coming in like Northern Pass they have to go through that same process of planning, ‘Okay if we’re going to count on this new energy source, for reliability purposes, how are we going to plan to replace it if something were to happen.'”

Federal and state permitting still need to be secured before the project can move forward. Skelton says ISO will review any changes to the plan that emerge from the Site Evaluation Committee process. But, he says, the grid operator has signaled approval for the broad strokes of the plan.

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Morning Edition Host Rick Ganley: This week the public has a chance to weigh in on the future of the state’s Site Evaluation Committee. The SEC reviews major utility projects, including proposed wind farms and the Northern Pass project.

The concerns of opponents of those projects prompted Governor Hassan to sign Senate Bill 99. It calls for a review of how the SEC works with a report due at the end of December.

This week’s listening sessions and workshops include one tonight in Manchester.

Tuesday night in Plymouth the state’s Office of Energy and Planning held its last public hearing on possible changes to the state’s Site Evaluation Committee - which is responsible for approving utility projects ranging from wind farms to Northern Pass - and the theme was that the SEC needs a significant and wide-ranging overhaul before it can be trusted.

About three dozen people attended and their concerns echoed those voiced at previous meetings around the state.

A central issue was that all fifteen members of the SEC are officials from state agencies.

A series of public meetings begin the first week in December to determine what changes, if any, should be made to how the state’s Site Evaluation Committee works, including whether the public should have a decision-making role in approving new utility projects.

The SEC reviews major utility projects, which will include Northern Pass.